ABSTRACT The lesser mealworm (LMW) is the most important pest in poultry production. Insects are associated to avian pathogens, mainly Salmonella. Its control is based on chemical insecticide, with limited efficacy in population reduction. Also, insect populations are resistant to the main active ingredients used. Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a mineral dust that has activity against the LMW when used in dust application. No information is available about DE liquid preparation against this insect. Thus, bioassays were conducted aiming to develop a strategy for DE liquid preparation to this insect control. In laboratory the ideal concentration for poultry house experiment was estimated and the effect of insect contact with poultry litter or chicken feed after application was checked. In the poultry house, DE liquid preparation (10% in water, 1 L·m–2) was applied on the dirt soil of a cleaned and empty poultry house. In the control poultry house, a chemical insecticide was used (cypermethrin 15 g + chlorpyriphos 25 g + piperonyl butoxide 15 g) (1 L·m–2). DE at all concentrations was efficient mainly when insects were dried for 24 h before contact with a substrate. In poultry house, both treatments obtained similar results at 15 days after treatment (94% of reduction of insect population). At 45 days after treatment, the insect population with DE treatment increased 39% while the insect population remained 17% smaller than the initial population with a chemical insecticide. DE liquid preparation has potential to be used as a safe treatment in LMW population management, as a shock treatment.

RESUMO: Este trabalho objetivou avaliar os efeitos de produtos Biogermex®, Agro-mos®, Soil-Set® e Planta Clean® no desenvolvimento da calcinose branca em Bombyx mori. Os produtos foram testados em duas etapas: efeitos sobre a biologia e produção de seda pela lagarta (1) e, em seguida, em função do seu potencial na prevenção/no controle da calcinose branca (2). Os produtos foram pulverizados sobre as folhas de amoreira (tratamento preventivo) e sobre o tegumento das lagartas (tratamento curativo). Na primeira etapa, os produtos foram aplicados durante quatro dias consecutivos, em uma das alimentações do dia. Planta Clean® - tratamento curativo - e Soil-Set® - tratamento preventivo - causaram mortalidade em 63,3 e 30% das lagartas, respectivamente. O fungo Beauveria bassiana foi inoculado na concentração 5 × 107 conídios/mL sobre folhas e insetos. Os produtos foram aplicados três horas após o fungo, em uma aplicação, e também por quatro dias em outro grupo. Um grupo de lagartas pulverizadas apenas com fungo serviu como controle. Biogermex® - tratamento curativo aplicado uma e quatro vezes - foi o mais eficiente, reduzindo a mortalidade em 25 e 26,7% respectivamente, em relação ao grupo controle. Nenhum dos produtos avaliados atuou de forma preventiva contra muscardina branca.

ABSTRACT: This work aimed to evaluate the effects of the products Biogermex®, Agro-mos®, Soil-Set® and Planta Clean® on the development of white muscardine in Bombyx mori. Products have been tested at two stages for effects on biology of caterpillars and on silk production (1), and then they were evaluated to know their potential in the prevention/control of white muscardine (2). Products were sprayed on mulberry leaves (preventive treatment) and also on the integument of silkworms (curative treatment). At the first stage, the products were applied on four consecutive days, in one of the daily feeds. Planta Clean® - curative treatment - and Soil-Set® - preventive treatment - caused mortality in 63.3% and 30% of silk worms, respectively. The fungus Beauveria bassiana was inoculated at the concentration 5 × 107 conidia/mL on the leaves and insects. The products were applied three hours after application on the fungus, in a single application, and also for four days in the other groups. A group of silkworms sprayed only with the fungus served as control. Biogermex® - curative treatment applied once and for four times - was the most effective, reducing mortality by 25 and 26.7%, respectively, as compared with the control group. None of the evaluated products acts preventively against white muscardine.

RESUMO: Um dos principais problemas enfrentados pelos sericicultores em todo o mundo são entomopatógenos que causam grandes perdas na produção. Destaca-se a doença calcinose branca, causada pelo fungo Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. (Ascomycota: Cordycipitaceae). Doenças fúngicas são facilmente disseminadas, já que os conídios são transportados pelo ar. Além disso, as condições de temperatura e umidade nos barracões são favoráveis ao surgimento e à manutenção do fungo, aumentando sua incidência. Práticas de higiene como a desinfecção do barracão e de utensílios são recomendadas, no entanto a contaminação das lagartas ainda é frequente. Dessa forma, esse artigo reuniu trabalhos voltados para a pesquisa de produtos antimicrobianos alternativos para o uso em sericicultura.

ABSTRACT: Entomopathogens are the most important problem from sericulture all over the world, and cause heavy loss to silkworm crops. Calcinosis is a common disease of silkworm, caused by the pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. (Ascomycota: Cordycipitaceae). Fungal diseases of silkworm are easily spread by spores which are carried through the air. Also, temperature and humidity inside the silkworm rearing rooms are favorable to disease development. Practice hygiene measures during silkworm rearing such as disinfection of rearing houses and appliances are recommended. However, contamination is frequent. This paper presents related research on promising antimicrobiotic products for their use in sericulture industry.

This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of different commercial pesticides, the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of several plants, and basidiocarps of Pycnoporus sanguineus L. on Beauveria bassiana Bals. Vuill. The commercial pesticides studied were Agro-mós, Agro-fos, Bion, Biogermex, Citronella oíl, Forth, Pironim, Bordeaux mixture, Planta Clean, and Sulphur-lime mixture, at the concentration recommended in the product labels (RC), the half of this concentration (1/2 CR), and the two-fold concentration (2 CR). The plant extracts were from Rosmarinus officinalis L., Cymbopogon citratus Stapf, C. winterianus Jowitt, Laurus nobilis L., Azadirachta indica A. Juss, Ricinus communis L., Melia azedarach L., Corymbia citriodora Hook, Ruta graveolens L., Curcuma longa L., Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) All the extracts and the basidiocarps of P. sanguineus were used at a 10% concentration. All the products were sprayed over B. bassiana previously inoculated to the culture medium (BDA). The parameters evaluated were germination, CFU, vegetative growth, and conidia production. Despite the deleterious effect of the commercial phytosanitary products on some of the parameters, they were compatible with B. bassiana, the same as the plant extracts were. However, the combined use or subsequent applications of the products here tested must be avoided before the 48 hours of B. bassiana application.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la interacción y los efectos de los productos fitosanitarios comerciales en la concentración recomendada (CR), a la mitad (0,5CR) y el doble de la misma (2CR), y extractos acuosos y alcohólicos vegetales (Rosmarinus officinalis L. - romero, Cymbopogon citratus Stapf - zacate de limón, caña santa, C. winterianus Jowitt - citronella, Laurus nobilis L. - laurel, Azadirachta indica A. Juss - nim, Ricinus communis L. - ricino, higuereta, Melia azedarach L. - melia, paraiso, Corymbia citriodora Hook. - eucaliptus, Ruta graveolens L. - ruda, Curcuma longa L. - cúrcuma, Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume - canela) y basiodiocarpos del hongo Pycnoporus sanguineus (oreja de palo) (L.) Murrill, todos en la concentración 10%, sobre el hongo entomopatógeno Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. En todos los tratamientos se realizaron pulverizaciones sobre el hongo inoculado previamente en medio de cultivo (BDA). Se evaluaron los parámetros germinación, UFC, crecimiento vegetativo y producción de los conidios. Los productos fitosanitarios comerciales, a pesar de que algunos parámetros fueron afectados se mostraron compatibles con el hongo, así como los extractos acuosos y alcohólicos. Sin embargo, se debe evitar el uso conjunto o aplicaciones subsecuentes de los productos aquí evaluados en menos de 48 horas después de la aplicación del hongo.